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Wildlife rescue

Wildlife – dead or injured animals

In the State of Victoria, it is not a requirement for any Local Government organisation to provide Wildlife rescue within it municipality. To report any sick, injured or orphaned wildlife throughout Victoria please contact: 1300 094 535.

Wildlife Victoria also has trained volunteer disaster response teams that can be called upon at any time to assist in wildlife rescue emergencies such as bushfires and oil spills.

Snakes

There are several species of snakes in Mount Alexander Shire including eastern brown, tiger and red-bellied black snakes.

Most cases of snake bites occur when people try to kill snakes. Snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. It is illegal to capture, kill or harm them.

It is a good idea to undertake first aid training so you are prepared in the event of a snake bite. Also make sure your first aid kit contains several compression bandages.

If you see a snake

• Keep calm and try to move yourself, anyone with you and your pets away from the snake.• Watch where the snake goes. Never touch or attempt to capture, hurt or kill the snake.• Call a snake catcher (wildlife controller) through Wildlife Victoria or phone a private wildlife controller (see contacts below).

If you see a snake in a public area (such as a park) do not approach the snake or try to kill it. Call Wildlife Victoria (contact details above). They can arrange a licensed wildlife controller to catch and remove the snake.

Ideas to avoid snakes when walking in reserves or parks include:

• Keep to paths• Avoid areas of long grass• Keep your dog on a leash• Don’t try to walk around a snake. Turn back and find an alternate route.

Snakes on private property

If you would like a snake removed from your property you can phone Wildlife Victoria or call a local licenced wildlife controller (contact details above).

There are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of snakes at your property. These include:

• Stay alert during warm weather when snakes are likely to be active. Use a torch and take particular care when walking at night where there might be snakes and wear shoes or boots as protection.• Make your property less attractive to mice and frogs as snakes prey on these animals. If you want to create a habitat for frogs make sure it is away from buildings.• Keep grass very short and remove rubbish, piles of wood and other cover, such as sheets of iron from your property.

Possums

Please note, if you hire a trap for the capture and removal of possums, you must advise Council that your intention is to trap possums, strict rules do apply as to where a trapped possum can be relocated. For further information on these rules please contact the Department of Environment Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) on from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call (except for mobiles and public telephones, which have additional costs).

Traps are available for hire from the Council Office. Trap hire costs are $20.00 Deposit and $10.00 hire per week. Traps are hired out on a weekly basis and a waiting period may apply when demand is high.